UNILAG students protest against ‘epileptic’ power supply

A cross section of the students protesting their exclusion from screening for admission at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) gate...yesterday.

UNIVERSITY of Lagos (UNILAG) students yesterday protested against the epileptic power supply, lack of water and the rise in pure water price on the campus.

The action coincided with the protest of the Muslim  Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) against the deferment “till further notice” of the congress to review its bye-law.

The protesters marched round the campus, complaining of an inconducive environment for learning.

They said: “There is no water in any hostel as at this (yesterday) morning. Students that managed to take their bath were those that fetched water yesterday (Tuesday) or that had reserved water days before and to crown it all, there is no light”.

The students marched in groups from the university gate to the Senate building, denying motorists access into the campus.

The MSSN congress, which was held at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, was adjourned because the students refused to adopt the resolutions of the bye-law review committee.

Addressing the students, the Dean of Students Affairs (DSA), represented by his Deputy, Dr Carol Ogbanika, said the school would prevent the association from being hijacked by staff and postgraduate students.

He urged the students to set aside their personal interests for the progress and betterment of MSSN UNILAG.

A staff adviser, Dr Ismail Musa, said the bye-law was flawed and as such it could not be used as the only reference for the new bye-law.

But, the students refused to adopt the financial guideline which stated that the staff advisers should be the primary signatory to the association’s account.

A student, Mukaila Tajudeen Akolade, faulted the call for the adoption of the school’s financial guidelines, noting that it has not been adopted by the University of Lagos Students Union (ULSU)

He said the proposed financial guidelines is alien to the standard of the university management.

Akolade said the former and current ULSU executives rejected the Staff Adviser being the principal signatory to the union’s account.

“If the financial guidelines have not been adopted by the number one society in the school (ULSU), then where is the clamour for justice in relating it to that of MSSN? All former and present ULSU executives have rejected the role of the staff adviser as the principal signatory to their account,” he said.

Another student, Chiwuzo Alexander, 400 level Economics Education, blamed the university for shifting the Congress till yesterday.

The MSSN said it wanted its bye-law to conform with the MSSN  at National level, which is the parent body for all MSSN in the country.

Since none of the resolutions in the first chapter of the bye-law was adopted and the students refused to move to the next chapter, the presiding officer adjourned the congress “till further notice”.

Dissatisfied with the pronouncement, the students marched to the DSA’s office in protest

At the DSA’s office, Ogbinaka said the students could not vote for new executives during the congress because the former executives were also not voted in.

The students disagreed, saying the bye-law provided for two-third majority to vote in their executives.

The Deputy Dean II, Dr Johnson Agunsoye, assured the students that the school would call for another stakeholders’ meeting on the students’ observation during the congress.